by Christopher Lowe

It appears that I have read my last paper Tribune, yesterday, February 10 2009.

it appears that we who live in the out Islands/Family Islands will only be able to read it online as a web page or website of some sort.

It will not be the same, because the internet is not formatted like a paper newspaper so no doubt I will miss a lot of information.

Perhaps I don't need to be appraised of current national events, legislation, gazetted notices, interest stories, crime reports, political intrigue, etc up here in Freeport, Grand Bahama.

Yes, if I have the patience I can browse the Tribune site, but there are so many layers to these websites and so many different formats how will I know I have at least seen every header or byline? I will no doubt loose patience with it all and fall into ignorant bliss.

Of course the internet is infallible and never goes down so I will have no excuse, but what about the people who rely on me to keep them informed?

The ten or so people who read my paper after I am done with it?

What of those with no internet or computer?

I do not know if the Nassau Guardian will be affected, or for that matter the Punch or the Bahamas journal but I have no real affinity for any of those, and quite frankly I feel stabbed in the back by the Tribune in this deal.

Is there no other option for me?

Perhaps I will just go away, like so many other aspects of our society that have vanished un-mourned.

To my friends in Nassau, If you see something in the press that you might think concerns me, drop me a line would you? If by mail, I'll get it in a week or so, or by phone.

By the way, if there is no access to an official printed gazette, am I exempt from whatever is announced?

What a mess.